? Use credit cards instead of debit cards. A stolen debit card gives an identity thief a direct line to your bank account; by using a credit card, you’ll be better protected from fraud and face less liability in the event your card number is stolen. Review your credit card statements monthly.

? Shop at trusted brands with secure websites. Before making a purchase, check your browser’s status bar for “https://” URLs that indicate secure connections when placing orders. Look for delivery guarantees from online retailers and keep hard copies of order confirmations.

? Be on the lookout for phishing and email scams. One popular scam sends emails, purportedly from UPS or DHL, alerting recipients that a package has been sent and asking them to fill out an attached form with their personal information. Don’t open any attachments; instead, delete the emails.

? Shoppers should also be wary of fake online stores. Many online scammers steal information by redirecting shoppers to Web pages that look like the checkout pages of legitimate shopping sites.

To avoid those traps, be careful what links you click. Set your browser to block pop-up windows, and make sure you type in the store’s Web address into your browser window instead of clicking links from email or other websites.

? If you have children, talk to them about the dangers of online shopping. Kids are targets for identity thieves, who know children are often comfortable online.

? And finally, use common sense. Beware of suspicious emails that request information such as your Social Security number or that promise a special deal. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

“If a television that’s usually $2,000 is on sale for $200, a flag should pop up,” said Doron Simovitch, chief executive of shopping search engine SortPrice.com.

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